Why The Conjuring 2 Hired An Exorcist

It’s not everyday that film productions decide to protect their stars and crew members from ghosts, demons and other assorted supernatural creepy crawlies, but that’s just what these producers decided to do. Producer Rob Cowan recently posted this photo on his Facebook page showing a real, live exorcist blessing the set of The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist on the first day of filming.

An actual exorcist blessing our conjuring set - first day - ready to rock and roll

So, I guess this happened. What in the world could have transpired on the set of The Conjuring to make the film’s producers think, "Man, next time we need to get some kind of exorcist in here." Did someone get cursed with a demonic possession? Were there weird shadows floating over everyone’s hotel beds at night?

Well, any scary movie that features children of any kind is automatically as disturbing as it gets for me. I think there’s something about these kinds of films that bring up old childhood fears in some of us, and maybe that’s why so many people enjoy them. The knowledge that all the monsters under the bed and in the closet were not real (At least for you, since no one in your family died horribly and under mysterious circumstances in the home of your youth.) is imminently comforting.

Cowan, who specializes in paranormal leaning films like Chernobyl Diaries and dramatic actioners such as San Andreas, also served as producer on the original series offering from 2013.

The second installment centers, again, on married demonologists Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren. The couple travels to a suburb of London in 1977 to investigate reports of odd events taking place in the home of single mother Margaret Hodgson.

The real life tale centers around her four children, ages seven to 13, who have begun telling her of the strange things they see happening in their home during the night. After initially believing her children are playing a prank on her, Hodgson realizes her daughters are the focus of the oddities occurring around them. The Warrens are just two of the long line of researchers and cynics who visit the home.

The series has once again tapped James Wan to direct the horror film. Wan, of course, is known for his attraction to making the most disturbing, creepy movies that only the most tormented minds can dream up. He helmed the first Saw film and produced the rest of the series, and has also directed the Insidious franchise. Wan recently signed on to direct the Justice League spinoff Aquaman.

I don’t typically watch horror films because I scare so easily. If someone living in the house with you for several years can freak you out just by coming into the room, fright fests are not for you. But, I can say that The Conjuring 2 is shaping up to be a mighty good horror film. If by "mighty good" you mean "something that will scare the bejeezus out of me for many, many years as it haunts every hour of my day."